public parade
As The Wheels Turn
One of the most surprised people has
to be the one who talks with Wesley
Cullipher over the telephone or reads
his statements in the press add then
meets him in person. For one is gen
erally shocked to see this Pasquotank
dynamo confined to a wheelchair.
Wesley Cullipher is a living Ixample
of one who hasn’t let a handicap affect
his usefulness to his community. Too
many of us have lead circulating in our
veins. Wesley has let it settle into the
• seat of his wheelchair, thereby, allow
ing the wheels in his head to turn with
alarming precision.
There were those who thought Roy
Lowe, executive director of Economic
Improvement Council, Inc., had blown
his cool, let sympathy run rampant and
even create a position for Cullipher.
We supported him. The Lowe-Culli
pher team in the EIC development pro
jects have borne fruits for the 10-county
Albemarle Area.
Cullipher assumed the presidency of
the Albemarle Area Development As
sociation at a time when the agency,
dedicated to economic development on
all levels, was gasping for breath.
AADA was being strangled by a “pover
ty” label and sure death was just
around the corner.
As president of AADA he charted
a different course—one of action. He
wanted every county and residents of
the several counties to enjoy a piece
. of this, action. In less than a year at
the helm, he distinguished himself as a
true captain of a floundering ship.
It was from his work with AADA
and EIC that Cullipher hatched the new
Albemarle Regional Planning and De
velopment Commission. As ARPDC’s
first chairman he worked tirelessly for
federal funding so a professional staff
could be assembled.
Now as executive director with the
support of other action men such as
Bill Gardner of Edenton, Cullipher will
Jace further challenges. There is
solace to be derived from the realiza
tion that ARPDC has at its disposal
leaders who have excluded the word
“defeat” from their vocabulary.
Wesley Cullipher is sure to wheel up
to a problem or opportunity, not being
of a mind to go over or around, but
straight through. The ARPDC is in
capable hands.
An Old Media Game
Newspaper reporters who are lazy do
it. Newspaper reporters who find hard
news scarce do it. Newspaper report
ers who have turned columnists do it
more often. They play a little game
called “Interview Your Typewriter.”
With the General Assembly in session
and corks flying in all directions in
Raleigh, it is quite difficult ,to compre
hend why a syndicated columnist has
to play games to meet his quota.
One wrote a lengthy piece last week
which appeared in our favorite after
noon daily, under the head: “Will Eure
Face Test?” The subhead was just as
Interesting: “Opposition For Veteran
Seen.”
It told about how Secretary of State
Thad Eure, while “sort of an institu
tion” may be challenged in the Demo
cratic Primary by state party chairman-
Senate reading clerk-tobacconist Gene
Simmons.
Either one of two things happened.
John Kilgo interviewed his typewriter
or Gene Simmons has let the pressure
of his positions affect his good judg
ment.
There are people within the Demo
cratic Party hiearchy who, like Gene
Simmons and John Kilgo, meander to
the left of center and would like to
see such men as Thad Eure go.
Thad Eure, readily admits to being
the "oldest rat in the Democratic Party
barn” and is one of the remaining sym
bols of the Jeffersonian Democrats, the
memory of which so many cherish.
For 25 years the Gentleman from
Gates has been Secretary of State. He
has served 10 governors and will soon
be 72-years-young. He does not claim
title to the high office he holds. But
whatever opposition is seen for the vet
eran had better come from the opposi
tion party if the Democrats are going
to keep on making good government in
North Carolina a habit.
Continued on Pago 4
Toppin Heads Legion In Northeast
Sheriff Troy E. Toppin was elected
Commander of the First District of the
American Legion at a meeting recently.
tw?s also elected to be a delegate at
American Legion National Conven
tion to be bald in Texas in August.
World War H in IM6 and has served
*»
V .
1 /
Volume XXXVH—No. 22.
Town Tat Rate Set: $1.25
BUDGET COMPARISON
1970-71 1971-72
Admin. $ 40,962.00 $ 54,646.00
Police 107,859.48 107,751.56
Fire 46,187.00 47,112.00
Stroot 189,624.75 200,524.75
E&W 812,000.00 895,905.00
Misc. 73,926.00 76,890.00
$1,270,569.23 $1,382*2931
0 V- • - r* * • ysiO*
[syL JNll I
fj f
i; ''*■ M
I w j p
Ground Broken For Housing Project The first spade of earth
was turned at 11 A. M., Tuesday on Edenton Housing Authority’s
$l.B-million low-rent public housing project. Construction con
tracts which total more than $1.2-million were recently accepted.
At the brief ceremony on North Oakum Street, one of four sites, are,
left to right: Jack Habit, authority chairman; James Kirkpatrick
of Greensboro, contractor; Mayor George Alma Byrum, L. F. Am
burn, Jr., executive director; and authority members: George W.
Lewis, Rev. E. C. Alexander, and A. C. Hudson. J. Scott Harrell
was not present. Construction is expected to begin later this month.
School Board Requests Special Levy
The 'Edenton-Chowan Board of Edu
cation will ask the Chowan County
Commissioners to levy what portion of
the 15-cent optional school tax is ne
cessary to provide enough funds to
maintain the present budget of approxi
mately $443,000.
Supt. F. L. Britt met with the com
missioners last Monday and he was
advised to cut the budget another $37,-
000 and to put back in the fire escape
at Chowan High School.
The board of education met on Thurs
day night and cuts adding up to ap-
EIC Gets Funds
Economic Improvement Council, Inc.,
the anti-poverty agency for the 10-coun
ty Albemarle Area, has recently re
ceived funding in the amount of $785,-
813 for three programs administered
from headquarters at Edenton Munici
pal Airport.
Rep. Walter B. Jones of the First
Congressional District, has notified Mrs.
Elizabeth L. Byrd, EIC board chairman,
of approval of a federal grant of $442,-
593 which enables the agency to con
tinue administration and management
for 12 months, effective June 1. To
this is added a local shade of $lOl,OOl
for a total budget of $543,594.
Roy L. Lowe, executive director, said
official notification has also been re
ceived from Roy E. Batchelor, regional
director of the Southeast Region of the
Office of Economic Opportunity.
EIC provides technical assistance to
some 65 existing community organiza
tions, assists in the development of ca
reer programs for the poor in industry,
provides planning services and infor
mation, provides programs designed to
combat hunger and its consequent med
ical debilities, places youth in vocational
training and totorial programs, and co
ordinates with local, state, and federal
Continued on Pago 4
as commander of the local post on two
occasions in 1958, and 1970.
He is also a member of the Chowan
Ruritan Club where he has also served
as president twice.
Sheriff Toppin is a member of the
Center Hill - Crossroads Volunteer Fire
Department and a member of the Cen
ter Hill Baptist Church. He also serv
ed as the county ABC officer before
he assumed his present position.
( Sheriff Toppin will serve as district
commander over 11 posts in this area.
THE CHOWAN HERALD
Edenton, ° Sin County, North Carolina, Thursday, June 17, 1971
S Sew record Town of Edenton budg
e $1,382,829.31 and a tax rate of
$1.25 per SIOO valuation were approved
Tuesday night during a special session
of Town Council. While the budget is
up more than $112,000 council antici
pates revenue other than taxes which
holds the increased rate to 15 cents.
Included in the budget for fiscal
1971-72 is a 5 per cent retirement for
proximately $29,396 were made but
when the $37,000 figure could not be
reached the board decided to present
the same budget of $443,000 back to
the commissioners and ask for the op
tional tax.
The original budget presented to the
commissioners was $476,763.64.
Other business before the board of
education included a motion to let the
school athletic facilities be used by the
Town of Edenton for their summer
recreation program.
A motion was approved to let a group
of young men and the RA’s of local
churches use the Chowan High Ball
Park to start a baseball team, and also
to let a young group of men to use the
Holmes athletic field to start a team,
when not in use by the school or Town
of Edenton.
A motion was passed to let the 25th
of each month remain the teacher
payday.
Food Stamp Violator Is Sentenced
Arthur Privott was convicted of frau
dulent misrepresentation by Judge Wil
ton Walker last Tuesday in Chowan
County District Court.
He was fined $57 and costs and had
to pay $55 back to the Department of
Social Services for the food stamps he
received.
Robert Hendrix, director of social
services stated; that Privott in filing for
the food stamps reported he had no
income for December when in fact he
had worked for Dickerson, Inc., and
had netted more than $155 for that
month, which made him ineligible for
stamps for January.
Privott had received food stamps off
and on since 1968.
Hendrix remarked that this was the
first case of its kind to be prosecuted
in court.
Other cases disposed of by the court
included Boyd Dudley, improper muff
ler, called and failed. »
Edward Lee Champ, speeding 55
mph in a 45 mph zone, 30 days, sus
pended upon payment of sls fine and
costs.
Ray James B. Ober, speeding 60 mph
in a 45 mph zone, 30 days, suspended
upon payment of a $lO fine and costs.
Jimmy. Louis Bateman, malicious
damage to personal property, nol pros
with leave.
Melvin Joseph Boyce, Melvin Harlet
McClease, and Albert Yelverton, failure
to list taxes, nol pros.
Lagodley Richard, assault on a fe
male, not guilty.
Single Copy 10 Cents
town employees. Council decided to in
stitute a retirement plan and not give
an across the board pay increase. The
retirement totals $16,000, which is equal
to 10 cents on the tax rate.
Town Administrator W. B. Gardner
told council the budget was based on
a valuation of $15.9-million with tax
collections estimated at 95 per cent.
(With this valuation, $1,590 is equal
to one cent on the tax rate.)
It was also pointed out that fund
balance appropriated dropped from
$35,000 to $27,500 and the amount be
ing transferred from E&W Revenue was
down to $75,000, from $114,239.23 in
the 1970-71 fiscal year.
The big decline in the amount avail
able from E&W Revenue is in the
amount required to pay sewer bonds.
Debt service in the Sewer Department
jumped from $58,500 to $95,280, or an
amount equal to more than 30 cents on
the tax rate.
The Board of Public Works budget
totaled $895,905, up from the existing
budget of $812,000. In addition to the
debt service payment, the increase re
flects a 5 per cent expansion of the
service and a 10 per cent surcharge
being levied to meet a VEPCO power
rate increase which was made retro
active.
Also reflected in the E&W budget is
the town’s portion of improvements be
ing done for Edenton Housing Au
thority.
Councilman Leo Katkaveck, chairman
of the Law and Finance Committee, said
the amount for sidewalks was cut from
$25,000 to SIO,OOO because it is felt
this is all that will be needed this year.
Mayor George Alma Byrum said he
thought committee members were
“shortsighted” on this item. He point
ed out that the merchants were sold on
participating in the program and
$15,000 was put in the 1970-71 budget
for downtown sidewalks. He said if the
town shared in federal grants then beau
tification had to be included and i'
would cost more than concrete side
walks.
Councilman Roy L. Harrell question
ed replacing existing sidewalks when
there are areas in town without any
sidewalks. When Councilman James C.
Continued on Page 4
Byrum Honored
Joseph Carroll Byrum, Jr., captain of
the Center Hill-Crossroads Volunteer
Fire Department was named “Fireman
of the Year” by the department at the
annual Ladies’ Night Banquet, held last
Tuesday at the fire station.
Guests of the firemen were the Cho
wan County commissioners and wives
of the firemen.
Speaker for the occasion was Thomas
Watts, district court solicitor. Enter
tainment was provided by the Williams
Family.
A barbecue chicken dinner was serv
ed to those attending.
Curley White, using profane language
in public place, 30 days, suspended
upon payment of $lO fine and costs.
Roger Cullen Bunch, speeding 65
mph in 55 mph zone, costs.
Support Historic Edenton Edenton Woman’s Club has contrib
uted $3,000 of the profits from the biennial Pilgrimage of Historic
Edenton and Countryside to Historic Edenton, Inc. W. J. P. Earn
hardt, Jr., chairman of the his f oric agency, receives the check from
Mrs. George Alma Byrum, left, and Mrs. Allen Hornthal. Mrs.
Byrum and Mrs. A. F. Downum, Jr., (not pictured) were co-chair
men of the 1971 pilgrimage. Mrs. Hornthal is club president, re
cently succeeding Mrs. David O. Wr'ght (also not pictured).
Bt. JmL I . M
W. B. Gardner
Wesley Cullipher
Cullipher Chosen
For Area Position
Wesley B. Cullipher of Elizabeth City,
economic development specialist with
Economic Improvement Council, Inc.,
has been named the first executive di
rector of the newly funded Albemarle
Regional Planning and Development
Commission.
Cullipher has been chairman of
ARPDC since it was formed several
months ago. He was chosen to direct
the organization over more than 100
othex,applicants for the post.
At a meeting of the executive com
mittee of the 10-county organiation,
W. B. Gardner of Edenton was named
to succeed Cullipher in the chairman
ship. Gardner is town administrator in
Edenton and also active in economic
development.
Also, ARPDC is presently advertising
for applications for three other per
manent positions. A planner, a coor
dinator and a secretary will be employ
ed to work with Cullipher out of a
new office building in Edenton. Jack
Habit is building the office on East
Queen Street to lease to ARPDC.
Cullipher, a member of the Pasquo
tank County Board or Commissioners,
is immediate past president of Albe
marle Area Development Association.
John Frailey of Hunting, W. Va., an
official with the planning division of
the federal government’s Economic De
velopment Association announced the
selection of Cullipher for the post at
last Thursday’s executive committee
meeting of AADA.
Cullipher called it the “greatest chal
lenge I’ve ever faced” and said the new
agency could be the “greatest instru
ment ever for the good of the region.”
“By acting together,” Cullipher de-
Continued on Page 4
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